An Iris Awaits: Fearlessness in Context: A Closer Look at 2 Timothy 1:7

In this third installment of the “in Context” miniseries, we’re diving into another of Paul’s letters, but this time, instead of a letter to a whole church as we saw with Philippians and Romans, we’re dealing with a letter to an individual—Paul’s mentee Timothy. In the first chapter of 2 Timothy, we find a verse that is often plucked from its context and used in isolation. You’ll likely recognize it:

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).

Or perhaps you’re more familiar with another translation:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV).

This verse has been used as a pep talk for people facing situations that make them afraid, whether that fear falls on the mild or the paralyzing end of the spectrum or anywhere in between. But while the statement “God has not given us a spirit of fear” is true for believers across the board, Paul’s intent, as we will see from the context, was not to make a blanket statement about Christians never being afraid of anything.

To use an extreme example, I think we could all agree that quoting this verse to ourselves as we jump out of an airplane to convince ourselves that we shouldn’t be afraid is a questionable application. Some types of fear are healthy and prompt us to take wise, precautionary steps—like putting on a parachute and making sure we know how to use it before we jump out of the airplane. Using the verse “God has not given us a spirit of fear” to rationalize reckless behavior does a disservice to Scripture.

But even less dramatic examples of applying this verse stretch it to cover situations that are not implied in Paul’s letter. We have a big exam coming up, and we’re nervous about how we’ll do. We’re about to give a speech, and the butterflies are having a heyday in our stomach. We try to talk ourselves out of the nerves by telling ourselves, “God has not given us a spirit of fear,” or the derivative paraphrase, “Fear is not from God,” but we forget that nerves are not always equivalent to fear. Certainly they can be rooted in fear and at other times can turn into fear, but nerves in and of themselves are not always a bad thing. Sometimes they can be a gift, because they show us what we find important and can be harnessed into helpful energy.

There is ample evidence in Scripture to support the statement that “fear is not from God” (aside from the type of reverent fear that we should have of God Himself, of course). Time and time again, in the Old Testament and the New, God tells people, “Do not be afraid.” David talks about trusting in God when fear assails him (Psalm 56:3), and Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid or troubled because He gives peace (John 14:27). So it’s not wrong to lean on the peace and strength of God in times when we are fearful, but pulling out 2 Timothy 1:7 for any and every situation in which we find ourselves uneasy does miss the very specific point that Paul was trying to make.

As we saw with Romans 8:28, 2 Timothy 1:7 is not written in isolation. The biggest clue that this verse is part of a larger whole is the very first word. “For” is a conjunction, a joining word, that usually connects one idea to another by using the second idea to provide a reason for the first. So to get the full idea that Paul is expressing, we have to go back to verse 3: “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:3-7, ESV).

Timothy, who was discipled by Paul, now serves as pastor over a local church, and Paul is writing to remind him “to fan into flame the gift of God.” Why? Because “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” But what is this “gift of God” and why does it require fearlessness to be cultivated? The answer to those questions lies in what follows verse 7.

Paul continues the chain of thought with another link: “Therefore.” Because we have a spirit of power and love and self-control rather than one of fear (v. 7), we should be bold in proclaiming the gospel and experiencing the suffering that doing so inevitably brings (v. 8). “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” (2 Timothy 1:8, ESV). Paul was encouraging Timothy not to be timid in sharing the good news of Jesus.

In fact, the word for “fear” in verse 7 is only used this one time in the whole Bible, and it means cowardice.[i] Paul isn’t telling Timothy that God won’t give us feelings of uneasiness; he’s telling him that God hasn’t made us cowards. And more specifically, he’s telling Timothy not to be cowardly when it comes to telling other people about Jesus, even if it leads to hardship.

The concept of hardship doesn’t only appear once in this letter, though. Instead, it’s a bit of a theme, popping up again and again throughout the entire book. Paul’s mention of suffering in verse 8 is the first of thirteen such references in the four chapters of 2 Timothy:

“I suffer” (1:12)

“Share in suffering” (2:3)

“I am suffering” (2:9)

“I endure everything” (2:10)

“if we endure” (2:12)

“patiently enduring evil” (2:24)

“there will come times of difficulty” (3:1)

“my persecutions and sufferings” (3:11a)

“which persecutions I endured” (3:11b)

“all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (3:12)

“endure suffering” (4:5)

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed” (4:18)

So we see that Paul was seeking to strengthen Timothy, to remind him of the power of God that dwelt within him that would enable him to step out in boldness for the cause of the gospel rather than shrink back in timidity. And that same power that God gave to Paul and to Timothy, He has given to followers of Jesus today, through the Holy Spirit.

How often we are quick to claim 2 Timothy 1:7 to help us overcome difficult or intimidating tasks, and yet when it comes to doing what the verse actually references—telling others about the good news of Jesus—we leave it behind and let fear rule the day. May God help us remember, just as Paul reminded Timothy, “to fan into flame” the light within us that is “the gift of God,” and to do so with boldness and confidence, with power and love and a sound mind, because that is the type of spirit God has given us. May we “not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord” and “share in suffering” with Him, doing so with the spirit of fearlessness that only He can provide.